Amusement apparatus

ABSTRACT

THE AMUSEMENT APPARATUS DISCLOSED HEREIN INCLUDES A CENTRAL STANCHION ROTATABLY SUPPORTING A BALL-SCREW BLOCK ASSEMBLY HAVING A FLEXIBLE WALL, CONE-SHAPED, SKIRT MEMBER DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING THEREFROM. COUPLING MEANS ARE EMPLOYED TO ROTATABLY MOUNT THE SKIRT MEMBER ON THE BLOCK ASSEMBLY SO THAT AS THE BLOCK ASSEMBLY ROTATES TO MOVE VERTICALLY, THE FLEXIBLE WALL OF THE SKIRT MEMBER WILL ALTERNATIVELY BECOME TAUT AND RELAXED ACCORDINGLY. A PLATFORM IS FIXED TO THE BLOCK ASSEMBLY SO AS TO ROTATE THEREWITH WHILE A PLURALITY OF EXTENDABLE RESILIENT ELEMENTS INTERCONNECT THE PERIPHERY OF THE PLATFORM WITH AN ANCHOR MEANS ADJUSTABLY CARRIED NEAR THE TOP OF THE UPRIGHT STANCHION. THE RESILIENT ELEMENTS ARE EMPLOYED TO NORMALLY BIAS THE SKIRT MEMBER IN ITS TAUT POSITION VIA THE PLATFORM AND BLOCK ASSEMBLY.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Mark C. Stewart Los Angeles County, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 766,230 {22] Filed Oct. 9, 1968 [45] Patented June 28,1971 [731 Assignees Wendell J. Mellor Eucino, Calif.; Mark W. llild, 11 West Los Angeles, Calil. a fractional part interest to each [54 AMUSEMENT APPARATUS 17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 272/1, 272/46 [51] Int. CL A63g 31/00 [50] Field 01 Search 272/33, 46, 6, 7,44, 39, 40, 43, 24, 2,3,1, 28, 57, 41, 42, 45, 47, 48, 58, 65, 66, 57 (2), 55

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,554 12/1913 Rodeck 272/46 Primary ExaminerGeorge .1 Marlo Assistant ExaminerArnold W. Kramer Attorney-Roger A. Marrs ABSTRACT: The amusement apparatus disclosed herein includes a central stanchion rotatably supporting a ball-screw block assembly having a flexible wall, cone-shaped, skirt member downwardly depending therefrom. Coupling means are employed to rotatably mount the skirt member on the block assembly so that as the block assembly rotates to move vertically, the flexible wall of the skirt member will alternatively become taut and relaxed accordingly. A platform is fixed to the block assembly so as to rotate therewith while a plurality of extendable resilient elements interconnect the periphery of the platform with an anchor means adjustably carried near the top of the upright stanchion. The resilient elements are employed to normally bias the skirt member in its taut position via the platform and block assembly.

PATENTED JUN28 12m SHEET 1 BF 2 MQQK (3. fin-t W02 INVIZ'N'I'UR.

PATENTED JUN28 um SHEET 2 OF 2 m T V N I Manx C. STEM/027' AMUSEMENT APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to amusement apparatus and, more particularly, to a novel apparatus of the carousel type having a toroidal expandable member encircling a rotatable platform whereby persons may derive enjoyment and pleasure by riding on the platform or the member and by experiencing body displacement sensations from the expandable member as the member contracts and relaxes.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, it has been the conventional practice in the amusement field to employ rigid, mechanized apparatus that moves in an effort to provide physical sensations to persons carried thereon. In some instances, such apparatus takes the form of a merry-goround, carousel, maypole or the like. Movement of the apparatus generally requires the employ ment of extensive power units, such as motor-generator sets, to operate the relatively large and heavy platform used to support and carry a plurality of persons participating in a ride thereon. Such equipment must be manually started and stopped and requires extensive maintenance, service and repair. Obviously, conventional apparatus incorporating such equipment cannot be considered self-propelling or automatic.

Furthermore, by employing rigid platform surfaces for carrying riders, the risk of injury to the riders is greatly enlarged since there is a complete lack of cushioning to absorb shock or to break impact load should a rider inadvertently fall or forcibly encounter the platform or other supporting accessories thereon. In most instances where children are riders on the apparatus, it is recommended that parents or other responsible adults accompany the children so as to be of assistance in the event the child might become unbalanced.

Therefore, the need has long existed for a truly automatic and safe amusement apparatus that protects the rider against injury and that moves in a predetermined manner by selfpowering means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the problems and difficulties encountered with the use of conventional amusement apparatus are obviated by the present invention which provides a toroidal skirt member composed of flexible material having its lower end anchored to a supporting surface and its upper end secured to a rotary ball-screw block carried on a central stanchion. The skirt member is substantially conical in cross section when the block is in its uppermost position so that the tapered flexible wall of the skirt member is substantially flat; however, when the block is in its lowermost position, the wall of the skirt member is relaxed assuming a curvature in cross section. In this manner, the skirt member may be referred to as an expandable member adapted to extend or retract in response to movements ofthe ball-screw block.

A platform is rotatably carried on the block to which expandable resilient elements are attached that terminate in securement with an anchor carried on the top of the stanchion. As the block travels to its lowermost position, the resilient elements elongate until the tension buildup in the elements counteracts to reverse block travel for movement to its uppermost position. The skirt member is coupled to the block by a slip bearing so that the wall of the skirt member becomes relaxed as the block moves down and becomes taut as the block moves up.

Annular inflatable cushion portions of the skirt member are provided that are suitable for breaking the fall of individuals carried on the flexible wall of the skirt member. Downward movement of the block member to relax the wall of the skirt member is achieved by means of the weight of the individual supported on the skirt member wall. By employing the annular cushion portion and-the flexible skirt member wall as well as all exposed surfaces of the apparatus with a layer of cushioning material, such as plasticlike composition, complete safety and injury-free enjoyment of the apparatus can be had.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel amusement apparatus which is selfpropelled by means of body weight in cooperation with resilient elements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amusement apparatus of the carousel type having a toroidal cushion member adapted to have its wall portions alternately drawn taut and relaxed so as to impart body displacement sensations to a rider carried thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amusement apparatus having a toroidal, expandable and contractable member adapted to support the body weight of a rider and which further includes a rotating platform adapted to support additional riders whereby the platform and expandable member cooperate to self-propel the apparatus by means of the body weight of the riders and resilient elements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel resiliently suspended amusement device which has improved features of motion, stability and accessibility whereby the presence of body weight of the user is translated into vertical movement of the device in cooperation with resilient elements.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel amusement device adapted to employ the body weight ofa user in cooperation with resilient elements supporting an expandable cushion member whereby the member expands and retracts in a cyclic oscillatory manner involving reciprocal up-and-down movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel amusement apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the amusement apparatus showing the flexible member thereof in its extended or taut condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rotatable ballscrew coupling employed in the amusement apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the tension adjustment means employed in the amusement apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the flexible member illustrated in its nonextended or relaxed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, the amusement apparatus of the present invention is indicated in the general direction of arrow 10 which includes an upright stanchion l1 topped with a decorative article I2, such as a ball, and having its major length provided with a screw thread 13 disposed substantially from its upper midsection to its lower and anchored end. The thread, preferably, has a pitch angle of approximately 20 to 30. In any event, the thread angle must be such that locking will not occur between the block assembly and the stanchion. Coaxially disposed about the central stanchion I1, there is provided a toroidal skirt member 14 comprising a base cushion portion 15, an intermediate cushion portion 16 and a skirt portion 17. The skirt portion 17 is composed of a flexible membrane or wall sufficient to support the weight and maneuvering of a child's body. The material of the base and intermediate cushion portions 15 and 16 is composed of similar material which is substantially smooth, soft and preferably of a plasticlike composition. The top of the skirt member I7 terminates immediately below a platform 18 having an annular cushion member 20 secured about the periphery thereof.

Adjacent the decorative article 12 on stanchion 11, there is provided an anchor means 21, preferably taking the form of a rotary face or thrust bearing which is adjustably located on the stanchion between the top of the screw thread 13 and the article 12 by an adjustment means 22. The platform 18 is connected to the anchor means 21 by a plurality of resilient elements 2326 inclusive, each of which are characterized by its ability to resiliently expand and contract lengthwise. In one form, each of the resilient elements may take the form of a spring bungee while in another version, each resilient element may take the form of a telescopic arrangement whereby two portions of each element may slide with respect to one another to contract and expand under spring biasing to lengthen or shorten the overall dimension of the element.

As shown in FIG. 1, the platform 18 is in its lowermost position with the resilient elements 2326 fully tensioned and wherein the skirt member 17 may be said to be collapsed or in its relaxed condition. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. illustrates the curvature of skirt member 17 when it is in its relaxed condition. Furthermore, this FIG. illustrates that the cushion portions and 16 are completely enclosed and separated so that the portions may be readily inflated under sufficient pressure to any desired degree of hardness. If desired, these portions may be filled with a reticulated foam or other plasticlike foam material.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the upright stanchion 11 is supported on a base plate 27 which is seated on a resilient pad 28 approximately four inches thick and carrying a thickness of soft flocking on the surface thereof. The pad 28 protects riders tumbling from the apparatus from injury during use of the apparatus. The undersurface of cushion portions 15 and 16 are suitably secured to the pad 28, such as by means of an adhesive layer 30 of pressure sensitive or other adhering material.

The upper end of skirt member 17 terminates in a flat, substantially rigid disc 31, which is carried on a ball-screw assembly 32 by means ofa slip bearing 33.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the ball-screw block assembly 32 is carried in rotatable relationship with respect to the stanchion 11 via screw threads 13. As the block assembly 32 rotates, the skirt member 17 via disc 31 remains stationary since the coupling therebetween is achieved via slip bearing 33. However, as the block assembly 32 moves vertically on the stanchion 11, the disc 31 and hence the skirt member 17 is moved between a first position of full extension or wall tautness as shown in FIG. 2, or in a second position when the wall of the skirt member 17 is relaxed as shown in FIG. 5. When the wall of the skirt member is relatively taut as shown in FIG. 2, the combined skirt member and cushion portions form a substantially conically shaped member.

It is also to be noted in FIG. 3 that the platform 18 is securely fastened to the block assembly 32 via a plurality of fasteners 34. By this means, the platform 18 will follow the rotary movement of the block assembly 32 as the block rotates on the stanchion 11.

In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the resilient element, such as elements 23 and 25, terminate at one end in eyelet fasteners 35 and 36 which are secured to one portion of the anchor means 21. The upper portion of this latter means is rotatably supported on a lower portion thereof via a plurality of ball bearings so that the rotary movement of the platform 18 will effectuate turning moments on the upper portion of the anchor means with respect to the lower portion thereof.

Tension of the resilient elements 2326, respectively, may be adjusted within predetermined limits by raising or lowering the anchor means 21 on the stanchion. This may be readily achieved by adjustment means 22 on which the anchor means 21 is seated. Adjustment means 22 may take the form of a plate in threaded coupling to threads 37 carried on the stanchion.

In the operation of the amusement apparatus 10, the contracting tension of resilient elements 2326, respectively, im part a pulling force on the block assembly to rotate 32 via platform 18 and fasteners 34. This imparted force causes the block assembly to rotate on threads 13 in an upward direction along the length of stanchion l1. Rotation of the block assembly causes the skirt member 17 to progressively become taut as the block assembly moves upwardly to terminate at its uppermost position. The cushion portions 15 and 16 are prevented from moving upwardly due to the adhesive layer 30 which secures the cushion portions to the pad 28. I

Children or other persons using the apparatus may jump on the skirt portions 17 whereby the weight of the user will impart a pulling force on the resilient elements 2326 via the block assembly 33 and platform 18 so that the block assembly will be forced downwardly on the stanchion 1]. As the block assembly moves toward the bottom of the stanchion, the skirt member 17 will become progressively relaxed while the platform 18 will rotate. When the block assembly 32 has reached its lowermost position, the skirt member 17 will be completely collapsed or relaxed as shown in FIG. 1. At this time, the tension buildup in the resilient elements 2326 will be sufficient to reverse the direction of rotation of block assembly 32 and cause the block assembly to rotate upwardly on stanchion 11 via threads 13. This upward action of the block assembly again causes the skirt member 17 to become relatively taut and to substantially straighten out so that persons supported thereon will be forced off-balance and caused to tumble onto the cushion portions 15 and 16 or even onto the soft pad 28.

The users of the apparatus may now climb or jump again onto the skirt member 17 for another ride. Repetition of the cycle causes reciprocal movement of the block assembly 32 causing rotation of platform 18 and extension or retraction of the skirt member 17. The weight of the persons using the apparatus is effective to self-propel the apparatus in cooperation with the extendable resilient elements 2326, respectively.

Safety to the users of the apparatus is greatly enhanced due to the soft and resilient composition of materials employed in the construction of the apparatus as well as the regulated inflation of the cushion portions 15 and 16 and the annular bumper tube 20. The muscles of the users are well exercised due to the requirement that the user must run or jump onto the skirt member 17, which action is followed by tumbling of the user from the device when the skirt member 17 becomes taut again. Should the user desire to stay on the apparatus, he may sit or kneel on the platform 18 and rotate therewith as the block assembly 32 moves upwardly or downwardly on the stanchion.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Iclaim:

1. An amusement apparatus comprising:

an upright stanchion;

means movably carried on said stanchion for reciprocal movement thereon;

a flexible member having one end thereof anchored to a supporting surface and the other end thereof operably coupled to said movable means and being adapted to be cyclically drawn between a substantially taut condition and released to a relaxed condition in response to movement ofsaid movable means; and

said movable means including a ball-screw block assembly carried on said stanchion and resilient means interconnected between a selected end of said stanchion and said block assembly whereby said resilient means effectively are tensioned to move said block assembly so that said flexible member assumes said taut condition.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including a slip bearing coupling said flexible member to said block assembly.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible member includes an annular cushion portion coaxially disposed with respect to said stanchion and a skirt portion interconnecting said cushion portion to said movable means.

4. An amusement apparatus comprising:

an upright stanchion;

means movably carried on said stanchion for reciprocal movement thereon;

a flexible member having one end thereof anchored to a supporting surface and the other end thereof operably coupled to said movable means and being adapted to be cyclically drawn between a substantially taut condition and released to a relaxed condition in response to movement of said movable means;

said flexible member including an annular cushion portion coaxially disposed with respect to said stanchion and a skirt portion interconnecting said cushion portion to said movable means;

a platform carried on said movable means so as to rotate therewith; and

said movable means including resilient means expandably connected between a selected end of said stanchion and the peripheral edge marginal region of said platform.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 including means carried on said selected end of said stanchion for adjustably varying the tension of said resilient means.

6. An amusement apparatus comprising:

an upright stanchion;

means movably carried on said stanchion for reciprocal movement thereon;

a flexible member having one end thereof anchored to a supporting surface and the other end thereof operably coupled to said movable means and being adapted to be cyclically drawn between a substantially taut condition and released to a relaxed condition in response to move ment of said movable means;

said movable means including a ball-screw block assembly carried on said stanchion and resilient means interconnected between a selected end of said stanchion and said block assembly whereby said resilient means effectively are tensioned to move said block assembly so that said flexible member assumes said taut condition; and

a rotatable anchor means carried on said selected end of said stanchion attached to one end of said resilient means and the other end of said resilient means being attached to said movable means.

7. An amusement device comprising:

an upright support anchored to a supporting surface and having a screw thread disposed about its exterior surface extending from approximately midway between its opposite ends to its end anchored to said supporting surface;

a ball-screw block assembly movably carried on said stanchion along said screw threads;

a rigid disc coaxially disposed with respect to said stanchion;

a slip bearing coupling said disc to said block assembly so as to allow said block assembly to rotate while displacing said disc vertically in response to such rotation;

an annular cushion portion coaxial with respect to said stanchion and being secured to said supporting surface;

a flexible skirt member secured between the periphery of said disc and said cushion portion adapted to be'drawn alternately taut and relaxed in accordance with movement of said block assembly on said screw thread; and

biasing means connected between the end of said stanchion opposite to its end anchored to said supporting surface and said block assembly soas to normally bias said block assembly upwardly to draw said skirt member taut.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said cushion portion is divided into separate chambers adapted to be inflated to a desired hardness.

9. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said said cushion portion is filled with a foam material of plasticlike composition. I 10. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said supporting surface includes a layer of cushion material extending beyond the periphery of said cushion portion; and

a second layer of soft flocking carried on said first mentioned layer extending beyond said cushion portion.

11. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said skirt member is a thin-wall sheet of plasticlike material and said sheet assumes a substantially cone-shaped configuration when taut.

12. The invention as defined in claim 7 including a platform secured to said block assembly so as to rotate therewith.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein said biasing means is connected between said selected end of said stanchion and said platform.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 including an annular cushion bumper carried about the periphery of said platform and disposed coaxially with respect to said stanchion and said disc.

15. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a plurality of spring-bungees effective to normally contract and yieldably expand.

16. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a plurality of resilient elements adapted to normally contract to pull said block assembly upwardly on said stanchion to draw said skirt member taut.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein each of said resilient elements comprise a spring-bungee normally biased to contract and being yieldable longitudinally to elongate to build up tension. 

